Chapter 5: Kuro of a thousand plans and "The King of Liars"
"Sister, are you sure what you say?" Apollo asks Artemis, who was already quite upset.
"For the umpteenth time, YES! I know what I'm doing!"
"I still don't believe it: the great Artemis wants to get married." Aphrodite speaks, amused at the idea that the goddess of the hunt falls in love.
"May I know, Lady Artemis, what you see in Luffy?" Percy asks respectfully.
Artemis begins to think about everything she knows about Luffy since she met him: he was insolent, disrespectful, rude, he had no table manners ... But on the other hand, he was loyal, brave and had a great heart. And apparently he was not interested in women lustfully.
"Well ... He's a unique mortal, I grant that to him." Artemis says while blushing.
This confirms everyone's suspicions: Artemis finally succumbed to love. A certain goddess was laughing uncontrollably.
"Hahahahahahahahahaha! This is priceless: one of the most boring goddesses finally falls before the power of love!" Aphrodite couldn't stop laughing, while Apollo went completely white.
"Wow ... The Hunters of Artemis are going to freak out when they find out." Groover said, a bead of sweat on his head.
"If Zoe were here, she would be furious with her goddess." Annabeth said, with a sad smile.
Percy laughed nervously, while Junior flipped through a piece of paper with something on it.
"Junior, is something wrong?" Themis asks
"A-Ah! T-T-Temis-chan! N-Nothing, it's nothing. I was just checking the roadmap in Luffy's history.
"Is it about that boy with the big nose?"
One Piece Pirate Warriors 3 OST - TRAJECTORY OF ADVENTURE
"That's right, ladies and gentlemen! And this time, we are heading to meet the 'King of Liars'!"
"The 'King of Liars'? He doesn't strike me as someone I can respect." Ares spoke, clearly uninterested in the character.
"You wait, angry caveman." Junior tells him, earning a look from Ares and Clarisse, while Athena, Dionysus and Percy find it amusing.
Suddenly, there was a beautiful scene of the sun rising as it shone over a small town, the birds singing.
"Well this seems fine." Zeus supplemented, though the peace was ruined with-
"Terrible news for everyone! The pirates are attacking!"
Running all over town was this lanky looking guy with a long nose as his most notable feature. He yelled over the pirates, warning everyone of their arrival.
"I assume Long Nose here is our 'King of Liars'?" Hephaestus smiled.
"Don't underestimate it." Hera spoke, surprising everyone. "If Straw Hat is what I think, then recruit that boy. The only thing we can do is observe the situation."
"In the end, this chick isn't that bad." Junior whispers to Themis, who nods happily.
"Please don't tell me he's joining the crew." Ares complained.
"So wait, the city is not being attacked by pirates?" Tyson asked. "If not, then it is a relief."
At sea, Nami warned Luffy and Zoro that they shouldn't head to the Grand Line now. Luffy agreed, saying that they should eat meat while Zoro wanted to drink.
"You need a more balanced meal than that!" Athena informed them, although there is no way they would hear her.
Nami told them that they need powerful ships and equipment if they want more members, to which Luffy added that he wants a cook and a musician. Zoro laughed at the mention of a musician.
"Hey, don't come to me when you're bored." Apollo complained, a little jokingly, while his sister narrowed her eyes slightly.
Nami claimed that there was an island with people a little south of them, hoping that they could get a real ship there, although Luffy and Zoro only wanted meat and alcohol. Back in the small village, the long-nosed boy continued to yell about pirates until he was exhausted, but then happily revealed that it was all a lie! They threw a frying pan at him.
"Oh, thanks to Ares." Clarisse sighed in relief as everyone watched.
Apparently this kid is so infamous that he is wanted all over the city, and he just revels in it, running away from the entire city.
"Is he a masochist?" Hecate stared, dumbfounded by the boy.
"I ... I can't say." Hades said.
Hidden in the trees, he rejoiced in what he apparently considers work; bringing excitement to this town. He then noticed these vegetarian-themed kids, who called him 'Captain Usopp' and are part of the Usopp Pirates.
"Who names their children after vegetables?" Poseidon said when Usopp introduced the children as 'Pepper' and 'Carrot'.
"Well, the Usopp Pirates isn't a very creative name in and of itself, so I guess it's something the whole city shares." Aphrodite chuckled.
"I like it, at least it makes you think nice things." Themis says with Athena's slight nod.
"Well, it looks like they're just pretending to be pirates." Zeus shrugged. "Don't act like you've never pretended to be a kid." His gaze turned to the demigods, causing some to blush a red hue, even if they knew that from a very young age, their lives were conditioned by their divine bloodlines.
Just as Usopp asks about Onion, a boy with an onion-shaped head came running towards them, telling them news of pirates reaching the north shore. At first, they didn't believe Onion, but saying it's the truth, Usopp ran away, said it was time for a snack, and lied saying he had "I'll-Die-if-I-Don't-Eat- My-Snacks-iosis. "
"This is not how -iosis is used." Athena sighed, while Ares smiles.
"Fine, tell me when this is over." Dionysus tried to take a nap on the couch, but suddenly a frying pan was thrown at him, hitting him square in the face. "Okay, who did that?"
"No, you must look." It was from Themis, arms crossed, addressing the god of wine one. look that said "I will not admit any complaints."
The children have criticized him for not being a pirate. It doesn't help that one of the boats has the Buggy the Clown mark on it. Before Usopp got away, Onion mentioned that there were only two small boats and three people, which instantly gave him the courage to protect the village.
"You should be thankful that it's just Luffy and the others because Luffy is a saint compared to Red Nose." Dionysus grumbled.
"You're not going to be like this all the time, are you?" Amphitrite sigh.
"Obviously he will." Hephaestus shrugged.
On dry land, Luffy and his friends planned to go to the village, but Zoro sensed people, so Luffy was excited.
Suddenly, Zoro told Luffy to be careful when Luffy suddenly dodged something attacking at his feet. Nami ran towards the boats as the flags came out of the bushes. Luffy was very impressed by this, much to Nami's chagrin. Laughing, Usopp came out introducing himself as a great pirate who rules the village and the people praise him. In fact, it has 80 million loyal subordinates.
Hades laughed. "Oh my gosh, if that's not a little kid thing, then I don't know what is."
"That is the most pathetic thing I have seen and that I have seen a lot." says Zeus harshly.
Luffy was impressed, but not Nami and Zoro. When Nami knows that Usopp is lying, the 'captain' panicked and admitted it, much to Luffy's surprise.
"Ow, Luffy ... You shouldn't be surprised by everything." Artemis says, while smiling sweetly. "... But it's part of your charm."
Zeus sighs in defeat, not even believing that his daughter is in love with a mortal like Luffy.
Usopp passed the '80 million 'part as an overstatement.
"Really? I didn't realize it." Hera said sarcastically.
-But he still has great men by his side, who were just the three boys. Once Nami saw that too, the children panicked and ran away, much to Usopp's horror. Nami has never heard of pirates using a slingshot, picking up one of the small orbs from the ground. Although he laughed, Luffy thought Usopp is cool.
"Don't cheer him on, Straw Hat." Hesphaestus grunted.
Usopp took that as an insult and was about to attack Luffy with his sling, but ...
"Now that you've got your gun out, risk your life."
The demigods smiled at his words upon hearing the similarities to Shanks.
Those words had an effect on Usopp, trembling as Luffy continued with Zoro by his side.
After the eye catches, the flags fell while Usopp was there, unable to decide his choice until ... he released it, but did not fire, admitting defeat as his words followed suit. Luffy and Zoro looked at each other and laughed. Luffy admitted that he just stole those lines from Shanks. Usopp was surprised that he knew the great pirate Shanks, and Luffy asked him if his father's name was Yasopp.
"Hey, uncreative names are hereditary." Athena said.
"... You realize that your name is Athena and your sister's name is Arte-misa, right?" Dionysus asked quite flatly.
"There is a difference between that and not being creative." Artemis defended Athena surprisingly.
"You know they are nothing alike, right?" Junior says to Dionysus.
"The first part of their names is only one" r "apart!"
Usopp was so shocked by the mention of his father that he fell off the cliff, but still, he asked how Luffy knew. At a small restaurant called 'Meshi', the four of them were having dinner while Luffy explained that Yasopp is in Shanks' crew, much to Usopp's amazement. Luffy told him that his father was a good sniper.
Two memories emerged; one of Yasopp shooting an apple from afar, and the other of Yasopp telling young Luffy about his son, Usopp, even though the pirate life was calling him, then he shoved a glass of beer over Luffy's head.
"We already saw that ten years ago." Poseidon remembered.
"Oh Tartarus, it was planned." Clarisse groaned.
"It's probably better that he didn't raise Usopp if that's how he treats kids." Hestia said.
Although Usopp's father abandoned him, Usopp was proud that his father chose life at sea.
"Actually?" Visible confusion was on Aphrodite's face. "Doesn't he resent his father for that?"
"I guess you must be happy that your father is living his life." Groover shrugged.
"But why would he have a son and a wife and then leave them behind?"
"You guys know the subject better than anyone." Percy snaps at the gods, making Poseidon feel guilty.
Nami asked if Usopp knew of someone who could sail and provide them with a large ship, but Usopp pointed out that it was a small village. Then Zoro mentioned a huge mansion on top of a hill. Nami asks if they can pay for her ship, but Usopp demands that they not go there. As quickly as possible, Usopp left, saying he had a lot of influence around here, leaving Nami wondering why he was in such a hurry. In the elegant mansion, there was a blonde girl on the bed and a butler was scolding her for wanting to talk to Usopp, especially in her weakened state. Although he scolded Kaya, he did so because he wanted to protect her like her late parents told him to do.
Upon Hestia's sympathetic comment of "Poor girl ...", Ares incredulously yelled, "Does Long Nose have a girlfriend !?"
"Or it could just be friends." Thalia suggested.
"Would Mr. Usopp's lies really hurt her?" Tyson asked.
"Unless they give him a lot of stress, which from Kaya's reaction, is a no." Percy said.
"... But he's just a little concerned for her safety." Athena nodded.
"Let's see if Usopp is what I think he is ..." says Themis, with a half smile.
When the butler left her room, Usopp was able to sneak through the hedge and visit her, sitting on a branch by her window. Opening the window, Kaya was so happy to see him, and she apologized for not being able to make him a royal guest as her butler, Klahadore, does not allow it. However, Usopp was not angry, calling himself a brave warrior of the sea.
The two enjoyed their day as Usopp told him the story of when he fought a giant goldfish at the South Pole when he was five years old.
"I knew it."
"That's how it is." Junior starts, happy, as usual. "Our dear King of Liars is actually a good-hearted storyteller."
"Then it doesn't really do any harm." Hestia said as Dionysus blinked at the scene in front of him.
Back in the village, the three vegetable children were hiding around Meshi, trying to save Usopp. Although they believe that the pirates have already grilled and eaten it, one of them corrected that it was the old witches who ate the people. When they finally 'attacked', they demanded where Usopp was. Hearing Luffy say about good meat already made the children's minds race as Nami giggled. Since the Usopp Pirates wondered what they would do to their captain, Zoro gave them a smile that would make anyone run for the hills and told them that they had eaten him.
There was some laughter in the audience, especially when the children turned to Nami and called her 'old hag' (mostly from Ares, much to Aphrodite's annoyance.)
Outside the mansion, the children understood that it was a joke, leading them to Usopp. When Luffy asks why Usopp is coming here, Carrot bluntly says it is to lie.
"Huh, not pulling any punches?" Hades laughed.
Nami thought it was a bad thing, but the children argued that it was for a good cause. They explained that Kaya is weak and has had depression since her parents died from illness a year ago, so her captain tells her his special stories to make her laugh.
"Hm ... So he's lying for the better." Hecate stared at him, a satisfied smile on her face as usual, as she listened to the children's admiration for Usopp's seemingly bad features.
"I already told you..."
Luffy suddenly claimed that they should ask Kaya for a boat after all, but the problem is, for the children, they have strong guards at the gate. That's not going to be a problem because Luffy has already said that he must climb the fence.
"GOMU GOMU NO..." Upon reaching the top, Luffy stretches out his arm, much to the children's horror.
"Oh yeah, powers aren't normal here. I feel bad for them." Thalia said.
"... Sorry..." Nami, Zoro and the kids grabbed him to stop Luffy from going ahead. "...the Intrusion!" Thus, Luffy released them and sent them all flying into the sky.
The gods and demigods fall down animely, while Themis gets a tic in her left eye.
"Artemis, what have you seen THAT child to want to marry him?" Apollo asks, incredulous.
"I'm starting to think about precisely that, Apollo."
"However, he is polite." Hephaestus points out, while Amphitrite sighs.
"Does that sound polite to you?"
"Well, he's not lying. And that simplifies things, although I doubt it's that simple." Clarisse comments.
Usopp's story was interrupted when Kaya pointed to Luffy and the others in the sky, who crashed to the ground. Kaya asked who they were while Usopp tried to pose as new recruits, but Luffy said he wanted to ask him for a favor.
"Are you really going to ask someone you just met for a favor?" Hera shook her head.
Luffy asked for a big ship, but Klahadore already came, saying he doesn't appreciate them coming in.
"I mean... he's not wrong." Annabeth said. "I would also get mad if someone came on my property, then I would start asking for free things."
Meanwhile, in the small village, there was a strange man walking on the moon before he turned to hear the sound of the guitar.
"This does not give me a good feeling." Hecate says.
"I don't know ... It doesn't seem very dangerous." Groover answers.
His friends look at him blankly.
"Really, Groover?" says his best friend.
Back at the mansion, Kaya tried to reason with Klahadore, but he wanted to wait until later. Right now, the butler wants everyone to leave, but Luffy asked for a boat. Of course, Klahadore said no.
"To be fair, you broke into his home as a thief, Luffy-kun." Hestia said, annoyed at the break-in of someone's home.
Usopp tried to escape, but Klahadore could tell immediately. Klahadore knows about the long-nosed boy and his 'adventures', which Usopp thought of as a compliment at first until the butler mentioned his father, calling Usopp the son of a filthy pirate.
"Hey, I know pirates are seen as the bad guys here, but it's not like Usopp told his father to be." Apollo tried to defend himself.
"Besides, that man chose his life." Themis said, feeling more annoyed when he saw Klahadore laugh at Yasopp.
Klahadore pointed out that they are from two different worlds, wondering how much money he is looking for.
"Sounds like someone who tells stories for money, asshole?" Thalia snaps at him, even knowing she wouldn't hear him.
Kaya demanded that he apologize to Usopp, but Klahadore refused, believing he was only telling the truth. The butler kept pressing buttons, insulting Usopp's father and his decision to abandon his family.
"Okay, that's too much, insolent mortal!" Ares yelled, however...
"I understand him." Percy says, poison in his voice.
They all turn to see Percy with clenched fists.
"You yourselves are the personified example: you abandon us at birth and leave us completely alone, at the mercy of the monsters and your desires."
He then feels Annabeth's hand on his shoulder and smiles at him tenderly, before addressing the gods, especially her mother.
"He's right, thanks to you, I spent most of my life running from monsters and fighting them, involving my mortal family, forcing me to go to Camp Half-Blood at the age of seven."
"Annabeth..." Athena started, only for her daughter to shut her up. "No! I know you never cared about me and I also know that you don't approve of my relationship with Percy!"
Then, Usopp jumped off his branch using his hook and rope mechanism from his bag, and faced Klahadore. Insult after insult, Usopp finally hit him. The butler took it as 'like father, like son', but Usopp told him that he is proud of his father, proud to be his son. The demigods were surprised by Usopp's admiration for his father's decision to be a pirate. Still, Klahadore dusted himself off, viewing Usopp as proof as his father's "wild blood".
"You're the one who caused it!" Tyson pointed a finger at him. "You are obviously saying things that enrage him!"
Usopp was about to hit Klahadore again, but stopped once Kaya demanded it, even when he defended the butler. Usopp left, and when he left the children and Luffy they rushed to defend Usopp, although a look from the butler made the children run as Zoro held Luffy back. Of course, Klahadore told them to go as well. In Kaya's room, Kaya coughed until Klahadore brought her food, even though she didn't want it. The butler told him that the chef would be sad if he didn't.
"So it resulted in a blame shot. Well, at least he has apologized." Hera snorted in anger, she wasn't a huge fan of how she acted there.
Kaya asked him why he insulted Usopp like that. Klahadore's reasoning? It started three years ago the day he arrived at the mansion. A flashback showed that Klahadore was homeless after he made a mistake at his last job, but before the guards could kick him out, Kaya's father helped him and gave him a life here at the mansion as a butler. Klahadore knew what he had done was wrong, but he was so worried about Kaya that he would never forgive himself if something tragic had happened to him.
"Damn the flashbacks!" Apollo waved his fist towards the ceiling over the sympathetic sobs of some of the more sentimental teenagers and goddesses (except Athena, who was still in shock from how her daughter spoke to her earlier).
Although Kaya forgives Klahadore, he still believes that Usopp is a good person, but the butler was quick to say that that is irrelevant. A moment after a man walking on the moon, Nami, Zoro, and the two vegetarian children were resting against a fence. Nami asked Zoro where Luffy had gone, and Zoro suggested that he must have been following Usopp, that the children thought Usopp was in his place by the shore. Pepper asked if they wanted to check it out, but Zoro refused. Soon, Nami asked about Onion, and the two boys explained that he would probably appear, scared. As if it were a signal, Onion ran in, yelling about a 'backwards guy'.
"Is some mortal walking on the moon really the scariest thing you've ever seen? Please..." Zeus let out a small laugh at the idea.
"Hey, it's no wonder Usopp tries to generate excitement with his stories." Junior said.
"Don't act like their lies aren't bullshit. If someone keeps falsely alarming a pirate or monster, in our case, you'll want to hit them too." The daughter of the god of war complained.
Pepper and Carrot called Onion a liar, but he said it was the truth, and pointed to the man walking on the moon that was approaching them. Finally, the man turns and asks who calls him weird. Nami thought it was weird, but the man calls himself an ordinary hypnotist.
"Yes, that is totally normal." Demeter said sarcastically.
The children want to see your ability. At first, he seemed angry at the idea of showing his technique to a group of strangers, but he proved it anyway.
"Oh by the gods..." Demeter moaned disappointedly under the laughter of the others.
"If only the Titans were so easy to reveal secrets." Hades sighed playfully.
He swung his ring in front of the children's faces, stating that on the count of "one, two, Jango," they will fall asleep.
"One. Two. Jango!" Surprisingly, it worked ... a little too well because both the kids and Jango fell asleep.
The laughter got louder as Demeter reached her peak fury "You have to be kidding ! This is ridiculous, I should harvest that ... That ...!"
On the shore, atop a cliff, Usopp looked out to sea ... until Luffy suddenly appeared, hanging upside down from a tree.
At first Usopp seemed to be annoyed with Luffy as he climbed down from the tree, but the long-nosed boy was still annoyed by that butler. Luffy agrees with him, especially since he insulted Yasopp. This encouraged Usopp, admiring his father for his choice. Luffy asked him if he would see Kaya again, and Usopp stated that he will if the butler apologizes to him.
"I highly doubt it, boy." Hera said, feeling bad for Usopp.
Unrest - One Piece Pirate Warriors 3 OST [48]
Then Luffy noticed the butler on the beach, and Usopp panicked, pushing the rubber man's head to the ground. On the rocky beach, Klahadore was with the strange hypnotist from earlier, scolding him for getting his attention, although Jango still believed it was not that strange. Usopp and Luffy didn't recognize the strange man when Klahadore asked if the preparations were ready.
Clarisse gasped. "Wait, the butler isn't going to let Kaya hypnotize her into hating the big nose, is he? I mean, he may be a coward, but he's a nice guy."
Jango said of course, and they can start their plan to murder the rich girl, much to the surprise of others.
"Okay, that's a bigger leap than I thought." Zeus looked at the man in shock.
"That's better?" Thalia said dryly to the daughter of the god of war, who could only collapse on the ground, although she quickly stands to her feet, for her father.
"Okay, now this is interesting." Ares smirked at the revelation, noticing the gaping mouths of the others, however Themis hits him on the head with a plate.
"You are insensitive, stepson." she says.
A hermit crab fell into the water while Klahadore told Jango not to call it murder, that he didn't like the sound. Jango corrected it as an "accident" instead. Luffy and Usopp overheard their men's plans to storm the village, have Jango hypnotize Kaya into writing her will and the butler will inherently win her over. Klahadore was proud to say that he spent three years earning everyone's trust, so it won't be a surprise when he wins the fortune.
"I don't know. That sounds like greed murder to me. The mortals are usually worse when you meet them." Poseidon narrowed his eyes at the man in anger.
"How could you do this!? I thought you cared about her!" Hestia and Aphrodite yelled at the butler at the same time. "You didn't care about her during those years!?"
Then Jango revealed something interesting. Klahadore is actually Captain Kuro and he stopped being a pirate three years ago. Using one of his subordinates, he made the world believe that he was executed.
The demigods turned a little paler or looked away when they saw Kuro's doppelganger crucified and executed by Marine bullets.
"W-What a barbarian." Annabeth covered her mouth with her hand.
"I can't tell if you mean that guy's death or that phony's plan, but I agree." Groover's jaw dropped at the scene.
"W-Well, it's horrible, but it's not like we fight the monsters of Tartarus. We are stronger that this." Clarisse said to lighten her spirits, without success.
"Clarisse-chan, this is not the time." Junior responds, putting a hand on her shoulder, showing seriousness for the first time, astonishing everyone.
Jango was impressed with this plan and that his captain is truly "Kuro, the man of a thousand plans", and the butler scolded him for using that man he abandoned years ago. All he wants is to make a huge amount of money without the government behind him, calling himself a 'pacifist'.
As Usopp, Junior, Themis, Annabeth, Percy and Thalia raged, Jango laughed at the hypocrisy of Kuro being a pacifist as he plans to kill an entire wealthy family for 'peace', though Kuro said the father's death was real.
"How could you want peace if you are willing to kill for it?" Amphitrite looked at the man with wide eyes.
Jango shrugged and told him that he and the crew will be sitting in the waters near here for a whole week, waiting for his signal. A heartbeat can be heard as Usopp panicked internally. Luffy said caustically that his plan sounds a bit wrong, which made Usopp worry, recalling that he heard that Captain Kuro is the most intelligent and brutal pirate of all, shocked that he is actually alive, something Athena had to admit. Luffy stood up and used his big brain and yelled at the two of them not to attack Kaya.
There was a round of clapping to the face and shaking of the head as Themis yelled, "To the Elysees, "Straw Hat" Monkey D. Luffy! You are an idiot!"
Of course, Jango and Kuro noticed them. Usopp tried to lie and say they hadn't heard a word, but Luffy said yes.
"This is no time for honesty, Luffy!" Artemis exclaimed angrily, wanting to hunt down Kuro and show him as a trophy.
Kuro looked at Jango and walked away. Jango took out his ring and told them to look. Luffy watched as Usopp panicked, saying it was a throwing weapon.
"What's that?" Hades said confused.
"Actually, it could be a chakram." Hephaestus narrowed his eyes.
"...A what?" asked his wife.
"Think of it as a ring leaf."
"Oh ... Thanks."
Usopp hides before being affected by his hypnotism. In "One! Two! Jango!", Luffy fell asleep, falling off the cliff while Jango fell asleep against the back of Kuro, who complained that he had not yet fixed this habit.
When Luffy fell, everyone thought they had killed him (except Junior, who smiles again.)
"I'm pretty sure there would be a lot of blood around him if that was the case." Ares said dryly.
"On the other hand, nobody wants to look at a mangled corpse." Demeter nodded a little.
However, there was a goddess who really wanted to see the boy with the straw hat again: Artemis began to internally worry about whether Luffy is alive.
Usopp trembled in fear when Kuro decided to let him go, acknowledging that Usopp can't do anything, much to Usopp's dismay. Kuro openly revealed his plan, saying that they will attack tomorrow at dawn. Usopp ran and ran and ran, crying at the thought that the village he grew up in will be killed, that Kaya will be killed, that everything he loves will be gone. A small memory appeared of the first time Usopp met Kaya. At first, it didn't work out, but as time went on, she grew more affectionate with him.
The sympathetic looks came from most of the students, but Ares said, "You can't do this yourself, kid." However, it did not sound malicious but frustration.
Back with Kuro and Jango, Kuro looked out over the ocean, the wind blowing as there was a ship in the distance, one with a cat-themed jolly roger. The man smiled.
(Wow, I didn't expect it to be that long. Anyway, in one or two, the hitting part will start. I hope you liked it. Until next time.)